United Nations Development Programme

UNDP Fast Facts: Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery

12 Apr 2014

Summary

More than 90 percent of disaster fatalities occur in developing countries. It is the poor who live in the most vulnerable and least prepared countries, who suffer most when catastrophe occurs. Over the past two decades, disasters have killed more than 1.3 million people, affected more than 4.4 billion and cost the global economy at least US$2 trillion. It is estimated that each year, earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones cost more than US$180 billion.